OF HIRUIAL SON OF RHÚNIEL

​

  In the first century of the Second Age, Hiruial was given to Rómeniel 'Rhúniel' and her husband Falrosion; Rhúniel, in turn, was born in the Hidden Kingdom to Rambatíro 'Ramtíron' of the House of the Golden Flower and his wife, Aermíriel, who was of the Sindar of Nevrast. Rhúniel and her mother survived, through the valour of Glorfindel, the Fall of Gondolin and also the Third Kinslaying. With the remnant of the Eldar from the Havens of Sirion, they were taken to the Isle of Balar; there, on the long beaches full of pearls, she met her future husband, for he was of the Falathrim and had come thither with Círdan after the Fall of the Falas.

​Due to the uncertainty and tumult of the time, despite the deep-felt love that grew between them, Falrosion and Rhúniel kept it at a distance, and their bethrothal was long, so that they did not marry ere after the Great Battle and the reshaping of Middle-Earth. They settled in Harlindon and there was their first child, Aertínu, given to them; he was named Falion by his father, but his mother named him "Spark of the Sea" after her own mother who had sailed into the west, for he was like unto her with his silvery-grey hair and gentle manners.

Now, though the sorrows of the past were not forgotten, life in Lindon was good and the little family moved to Mithlond, for Falrosion was ever in the service of Círdan. There was Hiruial given to them, and he was called at first Rhúnion, for he had the black hair of his mother.

Rhúniel was a learned woman and while Falrosion was serving on the ships of the havens, she read aloud to her sons of the splendour of Valinor, but also of the sorrow that followed its darkening; and she taught them about the Ainur and many other matters; she was proud of her ancestry and gave to them the languages of her father, for like many of her kin she cared little for Thingol's command of old - "Does not the soul of a people rest in its language?" - thus it was in Quenya that she named them herself, Eärtinwë and Herulómwë. These came to be their chosen names, and they were called in the Sindarin tongue Aertínu, Sea-spark, and Hiruial, Lordly Twilight.

As was perceived, the brothers were not alike in all things, for though they both loved the stories told by their mother, Aertínu would know more and delved ever into the details and etymology of all while Hiruial sought rather to imitate the heroes of old and to prove his bravery.

This was in their youth, and when they had both lived in the protection of their family for more than a century, Aertínu was sent to the great libraries to learn from the wise, but Hiruial was sent to a company of the High King's men in Forlindon, to learn their skills as best he could; from them he learnt how to swing swords and brandish shields, how to string and shoot a bow, how to fashion shafts and fling spears, how to wield lances and ride horses; but he also learnt of poetry and song, and most importantly he learnt how to serve; for, like his maternal grandfather had served as a guard to Glorfindel, he served now, by extension, Gil-galad, the High King of the Noldor.

 Now, the brothers were born in a time of peace and hope, and centuries passed where all the fine arts that prosper in such times were practiced in full; yet not all were content, and many who had refused the pardon of the Valar were restless; and some there were who could not abide by each other for the wrongs that were done - be it the perpetrators or the victims - so that many traveled east, and new Elvish realms were established in Eriador and beyond.

It was in this time that Rhúniel and Falrosion decided to sail west together, for Falrosion had been offered a place as ship's master on a white ship bound for the Blessed Realm; thus the brothers saw their parents depart and tarried themselves in Middle-earth, for they were still young and did not yet carry the burdens of sorrow and weariness

In this time, also, Sauron, who had been the mightiest of the servants of Morgoth Bauglir, reappeared - for he went into hiding, rather than face the judgement of the Valar - and he came first in a fair guise; and many were ensnared by his cunning, learning much from him about the making of fair and powerful things; but being unable to dominate the Elves who had at first listened to him, he showed his true intent, to claim overlordship over all of Middle-earth.

He came then with open war against all who opposed him; and he laid waste to Eregion seeking to lay claim to all the things that had been made by the smiths of that land through his teachings; but on account of the valour of Elrond, son of Eärendil, who had been sent by Gil-galad to aid the refugees of eastern Eriador, his designs were thwarted. In these dark years, Hiruial went into battle for the first time against the evil creatures of Morgoth and twisted men who obeyed the commands of Sauron the deceiver. Under the banner of Ereinion Gil-galad he took part in the ousting of Sauron from Eriador, when the Elves of Lindon - and the newly established refuge of Imladris - banded together with the Númenóreans to drive out the forces of evil.... [WIP, to be continued and revised]

Hîr- (S: Lord) uial (S: twilight)​ ~ Lordly Twilight